Legislation to strengthen penalties for unauthorized parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities has been advanced by an Assembly panel.
The bill (A-2352), sponsored by Assembly Democrats Reed Gusciora, John Wisniewski and Daniel Benson, would establish a penalty of up to $500 for unlawfully using a parking placard issued to someone with a disability.
“Reserving parking spaces for individuals with disabilities is a fundamental element of our state’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for all of our residents, and preserving the integrity of that commitment requires establishing consequences for abuse,” said Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “By discouraging drivers from unlawfully using placards that belong to a friend or relative, this bill will help ensure that the designated spaces are used only by authorized parties.”
The new penalty would be imposed in addition to the penalty for illegally parking in a parking space designated for individuals with disabilities. Current law sets the fine for parking in a restricted parking space without a placard at $250 for a first offense. Second and subsequent offenses carry a penalty of a minimum fine of $250 and up to 90 days of community service. The Motor Vehicle Commission may also revoke the placard or plates of a person who loans his or her placard or plates.
“Abuse of parking privileges intended to make facilities more accessible is a serious violation of the rights of New Jersey residents with disabilities, and it ought to be treated as such,” said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). “This legislation will discourage such offenses and advance disability rights in our state.”
“Restricted parking spaces facilitate self-sufficiency for New Jersey residents with disabilities and are representative of our state’s belief that all people should have the opportunity to live, work and fully participate in society,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Safeguarding the rights of individuals with disabilities, as this bill does, must always be a priority.”
Under the bill, “unlawful use” shall include display of a placard by:
· a person other than a driver or passenger who was lawfully issued a temporary or permanent placard;
· a person who continues to use a lawfully-issued temporary placard past its date of expiration; or
· a person who was issued a permanent placard and subsequently had his or her disability identification card revoked or deemed invalid.
The measure was advanced on Thursday by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, of which Wisniewski is chair.
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Nice idea, but if police aren’t enforcing and giving violations when such is called for, then this is all just a waste of time.
What about illegally removing and or not maintaining signage for disabled spots…
It’s happening all over nj and lakewood is no exception.
What goes around comes around. If you park there and don’t have permission to, maybe one day you’ll need to park there, that is, if you’re lucky. Think about it.
Agree with #1, police needs to start enforcing such rules. A hefty fine will help only if given!
It’s really sad and 100% ignorant and selfish for a healthy person to park in such spaces.
how about upping fines for people using handicapped spots without permission, im a young lakewood resident, victim of a car accident and currently disabled, i can’t even count how many times i left the parking lot without doing my shopping due to some uncaring individual who was to lazy to walk across the parking lot and parked in the handicapped spot, i cant walk any sort of distance so if the spot is taken i leave without doing my shopping!!
problem is many properties take off the Hadicaped signs &’paint over the striped area,
The current penalties are quite steep as is but if you want to up it make it $5,000 first offense $25,000 second offense with mandatory 25 years jail time. Give me a break!